Ever booked a cruise while on a cruise?

[Flying Beagle]

I recently watched the Crusing Do's and Dont's Special on the Travel Channel and they recommended booking your next cruise while on your current cruise. Has anyone ever done this? Did you get a good deal, were there any regrets?

[johnthed0g]

Lot's do, you get discount & more OBC usually. In the UK you can do this then take it to a TA & get further discounts/OBC. We never have.

[Paul Motter]

From what I have heard the main advantage is that you put down a deposit and it can appied to any cruise at any time for up to three years. I guess that gives you a lotr of flexibility. If you decide to move the deposit to a different cruise there is no penalty etc.

That is just what I have been told in the past - things may have changed however.

[johnthed0g]

On P&O you have to book a specific cruise, they don't like you changing at all these days, the rule is something like...you can change provided it is within 12 months? of the original & is more expensive.

[worthew8]

I bought a Future Cruise Credit for $100, good for 4 years and got OBC. Princess doesn't hold you to any certain sailing. Use it as the deposit when you do decide to book another cruise. No regrets at all! I plan on doing the same thing again next week.

There were a couple of things I didn't agree with on the Travel Channel's show.

[Flying Beagle]

What didn't you agree with on the show? I found alot of it was irrelevant for my cruise to Alaska, as there won't be any beaches and we're not taking any children.

[Paul Motter]

Flying Beagle - I watched the show a long time ago, but I also recall thinking a lot of it was very simplistic and didn't really give both sides of the story.

I'll have to see if I can find a summary of what it says.

[CruzNut]

I've booked while onboard ... and also later. In both cases, I've purchased a Future Cruise Credit for $100 per person. If you book a 10 day cruise, you'll get $100 onboard credit; 7 day = $50 onboard credit.

You can later turn over the booking to your Travel Agent and probably get a better price than Princess will give you.

Using the Future Cruise Credit also means you don't have to pay the balance until 75 days out for your final payment.

And, it's good for four years.

The only possible advantage to using it while still onboard is that you will be booking earlier and will probably have a larger choice of your type of cabin.

[Fern]

We always buy a couple of FCC's onboard. It's a down payment of $100.00 for any Princess cruise you take within 4 years. You don't have to specify any particular cruise while you're onboard. ("Regular" down payment's are more $$.)
You also get onboard credit up to $100.00 per cabin, depending on the type of cabin and the length of your next cruise. If you've used a TA they'll ask if you want the info transfered to them, which we do. You can also combine this credit with the stockholder credit. (Sometimes, some credit's aren't combinable.)

If you don't use it within the 4 years, Princess will refund your money. You really have nothing to lose if you know you'll cruise Princess again .

The "Cruising Do's and Don'ts" is a relatively old show. While it does have some good advice, many things have changed since it was filmed.

[Flying Beagle]

Thanks for all of the great info. I think I'm going to take advantage of this on my cruise in August. I've already got my eye on the Historic America cruisetour of New England/Canada for next summer.

[RichC]

Princess currently has a special running aboard their ships where instead of purchasing an FCC you can book a future cruise from a selected list & double the normal cruise credit + that can be added to your TA's cabin credit if offered. If you're planning on booking a cruise in the fall/winter season & are leaving shortly wait until you're aboard to book.

[Cruise Socrates]

I think it is worth as you always get more onboard credit when booking onboard and in the UK you have up to 7 days to get the cheapest price from different travel agents so you will always get the better deals. Also according to Cruise.co in the UK P&O and Cunard have introduced a new scheme where you only pay a deposit and then go home and choose which cruise you actually want to on while still getting all the benefits like spending money.

[Paul Motter]

Yes - the P&O deal is just like Princess which has always had the same offer.

Now Royal Caribbean os offering $200 shipboard credit when you book a cruise onboard if you are a Crown & Anchor member, but essentially, if you are on a Royal Caribbean cruise you are a member.

[DeepSpace]

This is a good deal, we always book a FCC of $100.00 per person for the future, and we have used this as a down payment for our last 7 cruises, and we have 3 booked for the future.